The Left parties will meet ahead of discussions with the government on the nuclear deal on Friday but are "not likely to withdraw support" over the talks with the IAEA chief.

The Left parties will meet ahead of discussions with the government on the India-US civilian nuclear deal Friday but are "not likely to withdraw support" over the talks with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief during his visit to New Delhi next week, Left sources said late on Thursday.

Reacting to media reports that the Left parties are upset with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) for proposing to hold informal talks with Mohammed El-Baradei on a safeguards agreement on the nuclear deal during his visit, Left sources said this was not "provocation enough" to withdraw support to the government.

El-Baradei is coming to India on the invitation of the Hindustan Times newspaper to attend its Oct 12-13 Leadership Summit here.

The four Left parties that support the government - the Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party of India, Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party - will discuss three options at their Friday meeting.

These are: whether the Left should withdraw support when the government begins formal negotiations with the IAEA on a safeguards agreement; or when an agreement is finalised with the IAEA; or when the US applies for a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group after the IAEA agreement is signed.

During his three-day stay, El-Baradei will meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visit the Tarapur atomic power plant near Mumbai.

He will also hold talks with officials of the Department Of Atomic Energy (DAE).